"You all go after the mutated Man-Faced Demon Spider. Leave this one to me," Yan said, his eyes gleaming with battle intent as he stared at the Giant Demon Ape that had suddenly appeared.
Taking a step forward against the ape's oppressive aura, a fiery red shadow emerged behind him—his martial soul, the Flame Lord.
At the same time, two yellow and two purple soul rings materialized around him, jumping rhythmically with his movements.
This was indeed the prowess of Spirit Hall's Golden Generation. Yan, even at this stage, had reached the level of a four-ring Soul Ancestor. If not for encountering the protagonist-imbued monsters of Shrek Academy, this era would have belonged to them.
The Giant Demon Ape, towering in the distance, seemed incensed by this human soul master's audacity.
Standing upright, the ape pounded its massive fists against its chest in a display of dominance.
In the next moment, it leapt from the rocky cave and swung itself from tree branches, charging ferociously toward Yan.
Its soul power was at 4900, approximately equivalent to a peak Level 39 human soul master, just shy of the 40-level threshold.
Moreover, traces of ancient beast bloodline coursed through it, making it far stronger than ordinary soul beasts of the same level. Even newly advanced Soul Ancestors would struggle against it.
This set the stage for a fair fight between Yan and the Giant Demon Ape.
Facing the charging ape, Yan activated his martial spirit, his body darkening into molten crimson, resembling solidified lava.
With a roar, he threw a fiery punch, the intense heat distorting the air around it.
The ape, eyes blazing with fury, mimicked his motion, throwing a massive fist of its own.
The two fists collided mid-air—a grotesque mismatch in size. The ape's hand was the size of a barrel, while Yan's enlarged fist, even with his martial spirit activated, was barely as big as a bowl.
Despite this size disparity, neither side gained the upper hand.
Yan staggered back two steps, slamming his foot down to halt his retreat, straightening his stance and clenching his fist once more.
The Giant Demon Ape, less adept at balancing on two legs, stumbled and fell back but quickly propped itself up with its arms, ready to continue the fight.
For Yan to hold his own against the ape's sheer strength was no small feat.
Watching this intense battle draw everyone's attention, Lin Yu's gaze shifted toward the three fleeing shadows of the "mutated Man-Faced Demon Spider."
He quietly shuffled backward before turning and slipping out of the underground passage, heading for the surface as quickly as he could.
Hu Liena tilted her head slightly, noticing his retreat. Xie Yue leaned in and whispered, "What's up, Nana?"
"Nothing, just a rat escaping," she replied indifferently.
Turning her gaze back to the three distant spider shadows, now blurred by distance, she asked, "Which one do you think is real?"
Xie Yue, who had been observing the shadows for some time, shrugged helplessly. His meaning was clear—he didn't know either.
"In that case, let's eliminate them all."
Without waiting for a response, he moved, circling around the ongoing clash between Yan and the Giant Demon Ape.
Behind him, a crescent-shaped martial spirit, nearly as tall as a person, materialized. Xie Yue extended a finger, pointing at one of the spider shadows. The crescent martial soul whirled forward with a sharp gust of wind, slicing through the shadow with a crisp snap.
"Hmm?" Xie Yue frowned as the shadow dissolved instantly.
He pointed to the second shadow. The crescent martial soul sped toward it, but the result was the same.
His expression darkened as he aimed for the third shadow, silently praying this one was real. Yet, as the crescent blade touched it, the shadow shattered like the others.
"Seriously?" Xie Yue muttered in disbelief.
Hu Liena couldn't help but laugh at the sight.
"You knew all along?" Xie Yue turned to her, exasperated.
"I wasn't sure before, but now I am," she replied with a bright grin, clearly enjoying her brother's frustration.
"What now?" Xie Yue asked, his earlier confidence shaken.
Among the three, although Xie Yue and Yan often took the spotlight, Hu Liena was undoubtedly their core, whether in talent or strategy.
"I'd bet it's still in this valley, just hidden," she said cryptically. "You know how Man-Faced Demon Spiders excel at concealment."
Perched atop a spirit tree, Fang Chang overheard their conversation. A cold sweat ran down his back. This woman, personally chosen by Bibi Dong as a disciple, was terrifyingly sharp.
After speaking, Hu Liena began strolling casually through the valley. Her unhurried demeanor suggested everything was under her control.
"Nana, you..." Xie Yue called after her, puzzled.
Before he could finish, she gestured for silence.
"That spider led us here on purpose. I suspect there's something it wants," she whispered.
Scanning the valley, her gaze finally settled on a spot beneath the rocky cave where the Giant Demon Ape had been.
"The Soul Ascension Fruit—it's a Soul Ascension Fruit!" she exclaimed quietly, tugging at Xie Yue's sleeve.
Fang Chang, though too far to hear her words, noticed her focus shift to the fruit.
The Soul Ascension Fruit, capable of directly enhancing soul power without side effects, was one of the rarest treasures among spirit herbs. Even Spirit Hall couldn't afford to distribute such items freely.
Fang Chang quickly calculated his odds:
The distance between him and the fruit. Whether he could reach it before Hu Liena. The threat posed by Xie Yue and Hu Liena. Whether the Giant Demon Ape might suddenly return.
Most importantly, his current HP: 707/1410.
Although his passive skill Regeneration Lv4 had restored some health, he was still far from peak condition.
Hu Liena, her eyes gleaming with excitement, turned into a streak of light, sprinting toward the Soul Ascension Fruit.
Fang Chang panicked. He regretted bringing them here.
He had coveted this fruit for so long. Letting someone else take it? Impossible!
In a desperate move, he leapt from the treetop with Leap, diving toward the fruit.
He and Hu Liena were on the same trajectory, but Fang Chang was slightly closer.
Before anyone could react, he transformed into a streak of black lightning, bounding down to the rocky cave. In one swift motion, he bit into the fruit, devouring it whole—leaves, branches, and all.